If you want to learn about the respective settings and individual functions in detail you may want to switch to directURLs or Media Publisher.

Introduction

This technical documentation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the differences between Canto's Media Publisher and directURLs. These components play a crucial roles in managing, delivering, and sharing digital assets efficiently.

directURLs

directURLs are a feature within Canto that facilitates easy sharing and embedding of digital assets across the web.

It offers the following functionalities:

1. Sharing and embedding:

   directURLs allow you to utilize Canto's Content Delivery Network (CDN) to effortlessly share assets for downloading or seamless integration of assets from your Canto library directly into websites, eCommerce platforms, and other content distribution platforms. This allows you to display your digital assets across various channels without the need for duplicate storage or redundant work. directURLs support both images and videos, providing flexibility in sharing visual content.

2. Limited renditions:

   directURLs provide a set of predefined renditions with specific pixel dimensions (100, 240, 320, 500, 640, 800, 2050 px), ensuring assets are appropriately sized for different use cases. You can select the desired rendition based on your specific requirements.

3. Previews for restricted assets:

   directURLs allow users to generate previews of assets, even if they are restricted or in the trash bin within your Canto library. This enables collaborators to view and provide feedback on assets, enhancing collaboration.

4. Cross-domain compatibility:

   While directURLs simplify asset sharing, it may encounter cross-domain redirect issues when integrating with certain e-commerce platforms like Google Shopping. You need to refer to platform-specific guidelines to address this limitation.

5. Traffic costs:

   directURLs incur traffic costs paid by Canto (direct contract with Canto), eliminating additional expenses for you and your team when sharing assets externally.

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Media Publisher

Canto's Media Publisher, a key component of the DAM system, offers powerful features to enhance content delivery and optimize web performance. It provides the following advantages:

Canto’s Media Publisher publishes content from your Canto library automatically to your digital storefront. You only need to store one version of each image in Canto, and Media Publisher displays it in the right sizes and aspect ratios across your website, e-commerce store, and other platforms. Smart cropping ensures your images always look their best in portrait, landscape, and everything in between.

With Media Publisher working behind the scenes, your team can deliver images in real time at a global scale. You no longer have to store multiple copies of your digital assets, and your team can focus on higher-value work.

1. Unlimited number of renditions:

   With Media Publisher, you can create unlimited variations of each image without the need for redundant storage. This eliminates the effort and storage space required to create and manage multiple versions of the same image.

2. Automated content delivery:

   Media Publisher automates the delivery of assets from Canto to eCommerce platforms, web platforms, and other content distribution tools. This streamlines the content delivery process, removing unnecessary steps from the team's workflow and enabling faster deployment of assets.

3. Asset processing and transformation:

   Media Publisher supports advanced media processing capabilities, enabling you to create renditions and perform transformations like cropping, resizing, and format conversions. These features allows you to optimize assets for various display and distribution channels.

4. Customized Cropping and Region of Interest:

   Media Publisher support customized cropping and the ability to define a specific region of interest for assets to ensures that images look their best in every layout (built-in smart cropping). You can create customized cropped versions of images, ensuring that the displayed assets align with your desired visual layout and design.

5. Content Delivery:

   Media Publisher integrates seamlessly with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to efficiently distribute digital assets worldwide. By leveraging CDNs, Media Publisher minimizes latency and ensures speedy delivery of assets to end-users, regardless of their geographic location.

6. Faster Page Loading Times:

   By leveraging Media Publisher, digital assets are delivered to customers from servers located close to their geographic location. This proximity results in faster page loading times, enhancing the overall user experience and optimizing web performance.

7. Access Control and Security:

   Media Publisher enforces robust access control mechanisms, ensuring that only authorized users can access and manage assets within Canto. It provides authentication, authorization, and data encryption to protect assets from unauthorized access.

8. Fallback Images:

   Media Publisher allows you to set designated fallback images. In case a live asset is restricted or accidentally removed, the fallback image is delivered instead, maintaining a visually appealing experience for users interacting with customer-facing content.

   If an asset is “restricted” or in the trash bin a default image (placeholder) is delivered

9. Scalable Storage:

   Media Publisher provides a scalable storage solution, allowing you to securely store and manage an unlimited number of digital assets. It leverages cloud storage technologies, ensuring seamless handling of growing storage requirements as your library expands.

10. Traffic costs:

    You have a direct contract with AWS and the cost for traffic and storage will have to be covered by you.

11. SEO optimized filenames:

    The responsive design and faster page load times Media Publisher enables also bring SEO benefits, helping more people discover your products through organic search. They also create a better customer experience on the site, paving the way to better conversion rates and a positive brand experience that keeps customers coming back.

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Conclusion

In summary, Media Publisher and directURLs are distinct components within the cloud-based DAM system. Media Publisher focuses on storage, processing, and delivery of digital assets, including fallback images and precise cropping with region of interest. directURLs facilitates secure sharing and embedding of assets externally, supporting limited renditions and previews for restricted assets. Together, these components enhance the functionality and efficiency of the DAM system, enabling effective management, delivery, and sharing of digital assets.